Problems of the Weimar Republic

The Armistice 9th November 1918

When German politicians signed the “armistice” (peace agreement) on the 9 th

November 1918 which surrendered Germany at the end of WW1 many
German people saw this as a betrayal of the German army (Reichswehr).
People believed that the army had not been defeated but had been “stabbed
in the back” (Dolchstoss) by the politicians who became known as the
“November Criminals”.

Many people, in particular the army hated the new Government. There were
even attempts to overthrow the Government and in 1919 the Government
decided that it was too dangerous to meet in Berlin and met in the quiet town
of Weimar.

The Spartacist Rising (5th January 1919)

Some people in Germany wanted a bigger change after World War One and
wanted a Revolution in Germany which would give greater power to the
working classes. They were called “Communists”. The main group of
Communists were the “Spartacus League”.

On 5th January 1919 the “Spartacists” attempted to overthrow the

Government. They took over the Government newspaper’s headquarters but
the uprising was not well planned and 100 Spartacists were killed including
their leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.

Although, the new Government stopped this uprising by reacting so violently

they had showed that they were weak and had little control.
The Treaty of Versailles (28th June 1919)

This Treaty set the conditions for ending the World War 1 which Germany
desperately needed to happen. It was signed on 28 June 1919. The Treaty was
very harsh on Germany and many Germans were disgusted when it was
signed.

The Treaty of Versailles meant that Germany lost 13% of it’s land, 48% of it’
iron production and they also had to accept “War Guilt” under Article 231
which meant they had to accept full clame for starting WW1. They also had to
pay £6600 million in compensation and their military was limited e.g. they
were only allowed an army of 10,000.

At first the new German Government (the Weimar Government) refused to

sign the Treaty and it was called a “diktat” an enforced peace. However, as
they needed the war to end they signed it. This led to more criticism and
distrust of the Weimar Government.

The Kapp Putsch March 1920 (Putsch = attempt to overthrow the

Government)

Many people were unhappy about how the new Government had surrendered
at the end of WW1, in particular the army. In March 1920 Wolfgang Kapp
marched into Berlin with ex soldiers. They declared a new Government and
the army let them do this and did not defend the Weimar Government.

The Weimar Government called for the people of Berlin to go on general strike
against Wolfgang Kapp and his soldiers so that Kapp could not control Berlin.

As Berlin stopped operating due to the strike the Kapp Putsch collapsed and
was unsuccessful and the Weimar Government took back control. None of the
organisers of the Kapp Putcsh were punished: this uprising showed that the
new government was weak, unpopular and vulnerable to attack.